Method and apparatus for reducing repetitive motion injury risk to typist and pointer-device operators

• US 5,792,025 A
• Filed: 12/11/1996
• Issued: 08/11/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lextron Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Lextron Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Kikinis, Dan
• Primary Examiner(s): Richman, Glenn E.
• Application Number:
  US08/763,127
• Time in Patent Office: 608 Days
• Field of Search: 434/227, 434/229, 364/508, 364/550, 364/551.01, 601/33, 482/1-4, 482/900
• US Class Current: 482/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/023 Arrangements for converting discrete items of information into a coded form, e.g. arrangements for interpreting keyboard generated codes as alphanumeric codes, operand codes or instruction codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0383 Signal control means within the pointing device

Abstract

A system to reducing repetitive motion injury (RMI) risks comprises a wrist-resting device having one or both of a heater and a vibrator in the device. In preferred embodiments edges of a support pad for the device are rounded significantly to avoid the possibility of sharp edges impeding a user'"'"'s blood circulation. In another aspect a control system is provided for monitoring user activity and weighting each instance of activity according to stored parameters to accumulate data on user stress level. In the event a prestored stress threshold is reached, a media player is invoked to provide rest and exercise for the user.

Claims

1. A system for minimizing repetitive motion injury (RMI) risk in computer operation, the system comprising:

a monitor for tracking user operations;

a stored parameter table having specific information related to stress accumulation; and

an accumulator for accruing stress level for the user;

wherein the accumulator calculates accrued increments of stress based on tracked user operations and parameters from the parameter table, keeps a current stress accumulation level for the user, and blocks further user input in the event current stress accumulation for a user exceeds a pre-programmed threshold stress level.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the monitor tracks user operations by monitoring interrupts generated by at least one computer input device.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein, after user input is blocked, the system causes a computer for which inputs are monitored to display a graphic presentation to the user on a video display, the presentation including one or more specific exercises for a user to perform.

4. A personal computer (PC) comprising:

a CPU;

a memory;

a video display monitor;

user input devices; and

a system for minimizing repetitive motion injury (RMI) risk;

wherein the system for reducing RMI risk includes a monitor for tracking user operations;

a stored parameter table having specific information related to stress accumulation; and

an accumulator for accruing stress level for the user, wherein the accumulator calculates accrued increments of stress based on tracked user operations and parameters from the parameter table, keeps a current stress accumulation level for the user, and blocks further user input in the event current stress accumulation for a user exceeds a pre-programmed threshold stress level.

5. The PC of claim 4 wherein the monitor tracks user operations by monitoring interrupts generated by at least one computer input device.

6. The PC of claim 4 wherein, after user input is blocked, the system causes a computer for which inputs are monitored to display a graphic presentation to the user, the presentation including one or more specific exercises for a user to perform.